BANGKOK, Jan 9 – Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and his deputy, Teerachon Manomaipiboon, acknowledged charges of unlawfully entering an agreement on the city’s Skytrain system at the Department of Special Investigation today.
They flatly rejected the allegations in written statements and said they were compiling documents to file a criminal suit against DSI Director General Tarit Pengdith.
They were greeted and presented with flowers by a group of Democrat Party supporters who wore black at the DSI office amid tight security.
The DSI charged the pair with colluding in an agreement with the Bangkok Transit System Co (BTSC) to extend the capital’s Skytrain system concession contract by 13 years without seeking permission from the Interior Ministry, the direct supervisor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
The city clerk and director of the Traffic and Transportation Department deferred their appearance before the DSI to next Tuesday, and the BTSC executives to next Wednesday.
Pol Lt Col Tawan Mangkang, DSI chief investigation, said he was informed by BTSC executives that they wanted to discuss legal implications of the charges before appearing before the DSI.
Meanwhile, Democrat list MP Ong-art Klampaiboon said the party is launching an election centre Friday while campaigns for the Bangkok polls is kicked off today.
Ong-art,who was assigned to lead the Democrat election centre, said the Democrats have taken the helm of the BMA for the last eight years since the governorship of Apirak Kosayodhin.
“The city administration will not encounter a hiccup if the Democrat Party is re-elected to pursue the policies and services to Bangkok people,” he claimed.
